Balmain x H&M Collaboration 2015

18th May 2015

Balmain has just revealed an officially announced of a capsule designer cross high-street collection teamed up with Swedish super chain giant H&M to sell cut-price versions of the French luxury brand’s clothes and accessories. The news came as an unpredictable surprise during the Billboard Music Awards (BBMA) 2015 red carpet pre-show arrival through its Twitter account.

“GETTING READY FOR #BBMA with @kendalljenner and @officialjdunn . WHAT HAPPEN IN VEGAS WILL NOT STAY IN VEGAS @billboard #imsoready #guessforwhat”

Although there was insufficient information to determine Rousteing’s status from divulging the details of this collaboration. In the intervening period, Jenner shared the same image on leaving a quick informal teaser to her 26.2 million followers,

“with @olivier_rousteing and @officialjdunn bein cute… we have some news @balmainparis @hm”

Just moments before the BBMAs was set to begin, the teaser on both designer and celebrity’s Instagram got the news proliferated like a wildfire globally. This is not the first time H&M made a startling partnership announcement through unexpected snippets that succeeded in garnering its shopper’s attention. Much like its earlier anticipation with its 2014 guest collaboration designer – Alexander Wang made a similar strategic announcement with the major high-street brand on the red carpet, just hours before the party was set to begin during the huge Alexander Wang X H&M Coachella music event.

Taking into consideration that both Kim Kardashain and Kanye West have front the Parisian brand’s most recent Balmain Spring Summer 2015 campaign, it seems conclusive that Jenner who is widely known for a her affluent in social media modelling to be part as the house’s future collective project.

From my very own humble opinion and observation, I doubt that these looks are the actual Balmain x H&M collection, perhaps they are one of the many upcoming hints that concludes the future collection consisting a variety of Balmain pieces from Rousteing’s archive collection. It is much anticipated that Balmain’s masterpieces will transpire to watered-down variants, such as Jenner’s Balmain Pearl Embellished Velvet Blazer will likely be transformed into a printed reproduction or a less embellished version with made from less quality materials that are feasible for large-scale production.

This movement has certainly made huge strides for the designer, Balmain’s collection will mark the 11th anniversary of H&M designer collaborations and is the 17th designer to join forces with H&M. Expectations are set high for H&M collaborations and I can already image that it will sell-out within an hour. But for now we will have to wait on what Balmain for H&M will entail. The Balmain x H&M collection series goes on sale 5th November 2015, and Australia stores will be the first to sell them.

Maurice Lim is Second Kulture’s independent editor and has spent the past four years producing technical content for the site. He devotes most of his week in studying and observing leading designer menswear trends, in particularly brands featured on the site. He is obsessed with fine clothing and has a great penchant for French labels – the more impractical he say, the better. He also likes a good long black.

I am quite disappointed as well, I felt Pierre Balmain should have been the brand collaborating with H&M instead of Balmain itself.

John Daly

Is it me or he’s trying to do everything in his power to cheapen the brand?? The collections haven’t been great and it’s losing what makes Balmain Balmain in the first place. I think it’s time for him to go.

Bi-products are for aspirational shoppers who can’t afford the real product. But it is also a good marketing strategy to build awareness and by providing chance to these consumers to enjoy a subordinate product, and maybe perhaps in the distant future these shoppers may be able to buy the real thing.

lol, im loving the comments!
Who gives a shit? H&M cusomers doesnt even know balmain anyways.
There will be a hype with clothing similar to pierre balmain design, there will be a leather jogger like in the promo pic which will be something like 300 EUR anyways and h&m target audience will not pay this price
Nobody bought the Alexander Wang leather pants for similar price.

There was an outcry with comme des garcons, lanvin, margiela and so on.
And now? Its over. Nobody cares. We Fashion fanatics live in a bubble.
The outside world never heard of brands like balmain.
And if they see we are paying 1000 EUR for a pair of jeans they think we are stupid.
And people who regnonice the Brand and are customers dont even care for balmain.

To be honest current collection is weak anyway, but come on. This is just us elitist beeing pissed off, but it doesnt matter.
If Riccardo could do the collab he would do it too. You think he cares for givenchy? Its about his own name and making money.

Looking forward for the promo pics with kanye and those puppets and future comments!

Oh Rathergrim.. the news travelled fast. Even while I was busy writing this post many of my colleagues has already receive the news via social media and content sharing.

Some of them who are not into luxury fashion learned about the brand and they were looking forward for Balmain x H&M. Some of my clients even told me that they will definitely queue for this collection, because they know Balmain is a very expensive and exclusive brand, not a lot of people out there can afford or be willing to buy this brand. Therefore it gets them excited that have a chance to finally own one.

Price wise i’m pretty sure it will be higher than the standard collections because Balmain uses a lot of materials and complex constructions, but no doubt it will sell well. Especially those buyers who’s intention is to resell the collection will definitely grab a whole lot.

as if h&m loyal customers after this ends they will in the future go and buy the original Balmain,please!!The only people buying this crap is customers who cant afford there mainline and know the brand,no normal h&m customer will rack up 300 euros for a h&m balmain jacket.
Have anyone been in a h&m store?it smells of sweatshop!!!!

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